Assignment

Values & Virtues Workshop

Step 1: Identifying Values

  • Take 5 minutes to list everything you value, including:

    • Things: Material possessions or experiences.

    • Emotions: Joy, love, contentment.

    • Character Traits: Kindness, empathy, curiosity.

    • Career Goals: Professional aspirations or ambitions.

    • Visions for a Better World: Dreams of societal improvement.

Key Values Identified

  • Kindness: Treating others with compassion and respect.

  • Curiosity: A desire to learn and explore new ideas.

  • Growth: Personal and collective development, evolving over time.

  • Creativity: The ability to think outside the box and innovate.

  • Empathy: Understanding and sharing the feelings of others.

  • Equality: Fairness and justice for all, regardless of background.

Step 2: Ends and Means

  • Many values serve as means to an end. For example:

    • Connection (End): Building meaningful relationships.

      • Means: Trust, empathy, communication.

    • Growth (End): Continual personal development.

      • Means: Curiosity, challenges, self-reflection.

    • Freedom (End): Ability to make choices without restrictions.

    • Kindness (End): Care and respect for others.

      • Means: Compassion, understanding, patience.

Step 3: Defining Good and Bad Values

Good Values

  • Reality-based

  • Socially constructive

  • Immediate and controllable

Bad Values

  • Superstitious

  • Socially destructive

  • Not immediate or controllable

List Specific Values

  • Good Values:

    • Self-respect

    • Curiosity

    • Kindness

    • Growth

    • Empathy

  • Bad Values:

    • Perfectionism

    • Materialism

    • Control

    • People pleasing

    • Judgementalism

Step 4: Barrel Model of Culture

Analyzing Cultural Support for Values

  • Infrastructure: The underlying systems that support values.

  • Social Structure: Relationships and institutions that promote or hinder values.

  • Superstructure: Cultural, ideological aspects that reinforce or challenge values.

    • Example: If a society values individual rights, laws and narratives support these ideals.

Step 5: Fischer's Five Elements

Evaluation of Cultural Provision

  • Hope: Cultures often promote narratives of resilience.

  • Opportunity: Access to education and career resources.

  • Dignity: Respect and equality are emphasized.

  • Fairness: Laws and societal expectations aim for justice.

  • Commitment to Larger Purposes: Collective action and shared visions are encouraged.

Step 6: Equity in Cultural Provision

  • Not everyone experiences these values equally due to systemic inequalities (race, class, gender).

  • Aspiration vs. lived reality shows discrepancies in cultural ideals.

Step 7: Recommendations for Change

  • Promote systemic and cultural reforms:

    • Economic Reforms: Aim for equal economic opportunities.

    • Legal Reforms: Ensure laws support all individuals fairly.

    • Social Reforms: Foster a culture that embodies hope and fairness for all.

Step 8: Potential Additions to Fischer's List

  • No additional elements suggested.

Step 9: VIA Character Survey

  • Reflection on feelings while completing the survey.

  • Assessment of its accuracy based on personal experiences.

Step 10: Cultural Applicability of the Survey

  • Belief that the survey would be beneficial across cultures.

Step 11: Character Traits Assessment

Top 3 Character Traits

  1. Hope

  2. Honesty

  3. Kindness

Bottom 3 Character Traits

  1. Forgiveness

  2. Creativity

  3. Fairness

Additional Traits

  • Traits wished for higher ranking: Bravery and leadership.

Step 12: Personal Development Goals

Brainstorming Goals

  • Short-term (5 yrs): Own a home aligning with personal goals.

  • Medium-term (10 yrs): Travel and experience diverse cultures.

  • Long-term (20 yrs): Cultivate wisdom and mentor future generations.

Goal Refinement

  • Financial Goal: Save and invest 20% of monthly income for financial independence.

  • Emotional Intelligence Goal: Developing wisdom and emotional intelligence.

  • Family Goal: Aim for a successful family life by age 30.

Step 13: Cultural Support and Obstacles

  • Analysis of how culture can support or create barriers to achieving goals.

  • Strategies to leverage opportunities and address obstacles.